Former Bear among baseball’s top rookies

In 2003, David Murphy set a Baylor record for batting average when he hit .413, earning all-America honors and leading the Bears within two innings of a College World Series trip. That June, he was selected in the first round (17th overall) by the Boston Red Sox.

Three years later, he was in the big leagues, getting brief appearances with the Red Sox in ’06 and ’07 before a midseason trade to the Texas Rangers. Since then, he has done nothing but hit, and he is among the top candidates for American League Rookie of the Year.

As of today, Murphy is hitting .274 with 10 home runs and 51 RBI, leading all other rookies in hits, doubles and RBI. Apparently that was good enough to get the attention of President George W. Bush when the Rangers visited the White House this weekend; Bush recognized Murphy as the “Baylor boy.”

Sic ’em, David!